Musketeers Extend Win Streak, Upend Butler in Five Sets

Thursday, October 27

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 p.m.

Xavier University

14-11 (8-4BIG EAST)

Butler

16-12 (5-7BIG EAST)

Butler

Xavier

Musketeers Extend Win Streak, Upend Butler in Five Sets

10.27.16 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Sofia Peterson had 14 kills with a .407 hitting percentage in the win

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball won its third straight match on Thursday night, defeating Butler in five sets (25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13) at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers (14-11, 8-4 BIG EAST) took the season series with the Bulldogs (16-12, 5-7 BIG EAST) and improved to 17-12 all-time against Butler. Xavier also defeated the Bulldogs in five sets earlier this season on Oct. 8.

MATCH NOTES

• Abbey Bessler led three Xavier players with 10 or more kills with 19. The senior outside hitter added 12 digs for her 11th double-double of the year.

• Sofia Peterson added 14 kills and a team-high .407 hitting percentage. The senior right side hitter also chipped in four blocks.

• Kristen Massa posted 11 kills, while Brooke Betts recorded six. Betts also led the team in blocks with six as the Musketeers held a 11-10.5 advantage in total team blocks.

• Mackenzi Humm posted a season-high 42 assists to go along with 16 digs for her fourth double-double of the year.

• Xavier recorded a season-high 88 digs, led by Meredith Klare who had 23. Samantha Foti also posted a season-high 20 digs.

SET ONE

• Xavier led from start to finish in the opening set. The Musketeers led by as many as nine, 21-12, before the Bulldogs battled all the way back to get within one, 24-23. Xavier took the final point on a Butler attack error.

• Abbey Bessler, Kristen Massa and Sofia Peterson all had three kills to lead the Musketeers. Meredith Klare also had seven digs in the frame.

SET TWO

• Xavier led 17-11 in set two before Butler rallied with an 11-6 run to get within one. The Bulldogs would close the set by scoring four unanswered points to even the match, 1-1.

• Abbey Bessler had six kills and Samantha Foti recorded eight digs to pace the Musketeers.

SET THREE

• Butler led by as many as six, 17-11, before the Musketeers closed the set on a 14-5 run capped by a Kristen Massa kill.

SET FOUR

• Set four had three ties and two lead changes. Tied at 23, the Bulldogs took advantage of back-to-back Xavier errors to force a fifth set.

SET FIVE

• The final set had nine ties and five lead changes. Tied at 12, Xavier closed the set on a 3-1 run to capture the match. Sofia Peterson had two kills down the stretch to seal the victory.

UP NEXT

• Xavier hits the road for four consecutive BIG EAST matches starting with a trips to Providence (Nov. 4) and Creighton (Nov. 6).